Nose: Butterscotch, barley and marzipan (almond) with
the slightest hint of aniseed.

Palate: Smooth and warming on the tongue with a
delightful butterscotch flavour slowly giving way to the
almonds.

Overall Impression: I like this whisky, very much. If I were to
criticise it, I would probably comment on it being just a little
watery and short in aftertaste. But this is a G&M CC bottling
at 40% and I am sure if it were 46% then it would be near to
perfect.

Nose: Crammed full with
very floral butterscotch and hints of wood and vanilla. This
really is just so aromatic, not massively complex, not
changing very much, but wonderfully hitting the spot! Could
that be just a suggestion of basil coming through there?

Palate: A
perfect extension of the nose, no
more, no less but continuing marvellously with that butterscotch
and wood, some vanilla and the faintest suggestion of coconut
leading into the very long finish.

Finish: Extremely long with a little more of that coconut.

Overall Impression:This
is indeed a marvellous whisky, it just
happens to have a style which I personally adore, light, floral,
butterscotch and a hint of coconut. For sure it's a
"Great".

Lochside (IB) Grain

Clan
Denny (D. Laing),
Lochside 1963, 42y, 45.2%,

Typical cost of
this bottle; 

Nose: Strong and vivid
with hints of liquorice, wild flowers and straw.

Palate: Delightfully
smooth but with quite a short finish. Some liquorice immediately
hits the front of the tongue, spreading to the middle then
fading away to leave a dry aftertaste.

Just
a drop of water lengthens the finish and brings out the
straw elements, also making the finish a little longer.

Overall Impression: Quite pleasant, but not one to write
home about.

Lochside (IB) Blended

Adelphi,
Lochside
Blended Whisky
1965-2011, 46y,
52.3%,

Cask
No.6778, one of 499 bottles

Typical cost of
this bottle; 

Reviewed as part of
MMA 2011

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Mahogany,
extremely dark

Nose: Toasted nuts and dark fruits, in fact
almost scorched wood giving a depth of richness. After some
minutes there's a hint of sea-air and light rubber reminding
me of an old Atlantic jetty or pier, before marinated prunes
make a surprising appearance to complete the experience.

Palate: Big sherried(?)
power alongside some amazingly frssh and light wood notes. Not
quite perfumed, but certainly very energetic and also
including delightfully flavoursome treacle toffee.

Finish: Extremely long and rich with some light coffee
influence.

Overall Impression: The stuff of dreams. A delightful
"Great"!

Revisiting this whisky after 3-4 weeks and also in comparison
with another 46y Lochside blended whisky from The Whisky
Exchange:

Nose: Lots of butterscotch, in fact
this is extremely aromatic and light with floral butterscotch,
creamy vanilla and hints of apricot. Wonderful, I could just sit
and nose this all day.

Palate: Apricot, peach and light
butterscotch are accompanied by lots of floral creaminess
followed by suggestions of juniper.

Finish: Very long, very floral, very 'butterscotch'.

Overall Impression: I am sampling this
whisky alongside a second tasting of the Adelphi 46y sherried
version (as above tasting note) and these two whiskies couldn't
be more different. The Adelphi has massive sherry influence but
still with an aromatic and floral influence, whereas this TWE
version is not sherried and if anything exhibits the traits of a
Great old single grain whisky. Did I say Great?
Yes it is. In fact it is just slightly better than the Adelphi
bottling and that was pretty phenomenal!